Combined metallic tie and rail-clamp.



w. M, GaLPm. COMBINED METALLIC TIE AND RAIL CLAMP.

(Appueatin med nec. 27, 1901.;

Nn. 694,737. Y Patented Mar. 4, 1902.

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I 7c 6x s v Y 7)" y y y nu f7 f IN VENTO#1 WILLIAM M.GILPIN UNrTnn STATES PATENT Ormes.

IVILLIAM M. GILPIN, OF THOMAS, IVEST VIRGINIA.

COMBINED METLLIC TlEpAND RAIL-CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming partici' Letters Patent No. 694,737, dated March 4, 1902. Application led December 2'7, 1901. Serial No. 87,436. (No model.)

T0 all wiz/0772, t nty concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAnM. GILPIN, residing at Thomas, in the county of Tucker and State of lVest Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Combined Metallic Tie and Rail-Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of metallic ties having the railclamp devices forming a coperative part thereof for fastening therails to the ties; and the said invention seeks to provide a means of the character described capable of being conveniently and quickly applied for use for holding the rails rigidly and securely in the proper position and capable of being quickly dissembled for the removal of the rail and which may be again used with the same eas as before.

In its general nature my invention comprehends a metallic tie for its rail-engaging and peculiar combination of parts,all of which k will hereinafter be explained, and specilically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which* Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a rail-tie equipped with my improved railclamping devices. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof,{taken practically on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is alike section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section illustrating the manner in which the opposing clam p-plates are forced home to their rail-clamping position and how the lock and wedge member is fitted in place.

ber, hereinafter referred to.

In the drawings, I designates a metal tie having the usual U-shape form in cross-section to provide for the convenient illing of the ballast close up against the under side of the top or rail-bearing surface of the tie', the reason for which will presently'appear, and to facilitate the filling of the ballast between the pendent portions la of the tie said portions may be cut out,as indicated by 1 in Fig-.1. At each end the tie l has its top provided with two longitudinallydisposed slots 2 3, which are in alinement, but disposed one at each side of the solidV or rail-bearing portion l, which is located between the adjacent ends of the two slots, as best shown in Fig. 10. Each of the slots 2 3 is of asubstantial T shape, with the head or laterally-extending parts 2 3 adjacent the rail-bearingportion 1lC of the ties and the reduced portions 2b 3b extended outward from the said portion l. At the head portions 2 3 the tie has side walls ld le, extended vertically downward to a point below the undercut guide-surfaces 1X, adjacent the lower edges of the shank portion of the two slots, as shown. The slot 3 coperates with the outer member 5, the peculiar construction of which is best shown in Fig. 7, by reference to which lit will be noticed it consists of an upper orhead portion 53,'whose parallel edges are eX- tended laterally of thependent or shank portion 5", whereby to straddle and cover the slot in which the member 5 seats and slides. The shank of the member 5 comprises a front dovetailed lug 5, whose'base is of a slightly less width than the head part 5@ and of a size to snugly pass down into the cross part 3ab of the slot 3. The side walls of the tie under the part 3b are suitably inclined to engage 5 is slid .back into its operative position, as indicated in Fig. 4. The member 5 also includes the narrow shank portion 5d, which engages the `restricted part of the slot 3, as shown.

6 designates the opposing clamp member,

vwith the dovetailed lug 5e when the member IOS which has substantially the shape of member 5, its narrow portion 6" being made to snugly engage the walls of the restricted or shank part of slot 2. The slot 2 is, however, of a greater length than slot 3 to admit of the insertion of the combined Wedge and lock member 7, the peculiar construction of which and it-s coperation with the clamp-plates 5 and U forms the essential feature of my invention. The outer edge 6 of the head 6 of the member G is beveled or undercut, the reason for which will presently appear.

So far as described the manner in which the clamp members 5 and G areadjusted to clamp the rail is explained as follows: The member 5 is first fitted into slot 3, with its dovetailed end pushed into the head or laterally wide end part 3 of the slot 3 until its head portion 5 lies fiush on 'the tie, when it (the member 5) is slid back to bring its dovetailed lug into engagement with the correspond- ,ingly-shaped Walls of the slot 3, which are made to coact with the said dovetailed lug and which hold the member 5 from moving upout of the slot 3. The rail A is then placed in position, after which the member 6 is fitted into the slot 2, its dovetailed part 6b being first pushed down into the enlarged part 2 of the said slot, after which the member is slid back to engage the interlocking,r Walls of the slot, that holds the said member 6 from moving up out of the slot 2. The two members 5 and 6 are then adjusted to bring their railclampiug ends to engage the rail-flanges, as shown in Fig. G, after which the wedge or locking-key 7 is fitted in place. The member 7 comprises a pendent or body portion 7, adapted to fit and slide in the narrow portion of the slot 2, and a head 7, having a width similar to the heads of the members 5 and 6. The member 7 also has a notched seat 7d for engaging the outer edge of the slot 2, the upper part of which edge is slightly beveled, as at 2X, for a purpose presently explained. The member 7 is also formed with a rearwardly-extending stem 7 on its lower edge for engaging a longitudinally-extending seat l in the underside of the tie-top, as clearlyseen in Fig. 2, and the front edge of the member 7 has two surfaces s s', disposed at an obtuse angle to each other. Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 6, in fitting the member 7 in place it is fulcrumed on the outer edge of the slot 2, the bevel 2 of which permits the member 7 to assume the in-` clined position shown, and when in the said position the edge s engages the outer edge of the head of the member 6. Down pressure or tap with a hammer on member 7 will cause said member, by reason of its inclined surface engaging the member 6, to force said member and also member 5 home and to firmly grip the rail, it being obvious that as the npper end of the part s passes the edge of the member 6 the member 7 will then close down to the position shown in Fig. 2, with its bevcled parts' in engagement with the undertilt or bear down on the front edge of member 7, and thereby keep it firmly in place, the said member 7 being also held in place by a ballast bearing against the stem portion 7l1 thereof. In case of wear of the several parts to such an extent that the fastening devices will move slightly lengthwise of the slots the lost motion thereof can be readily taken up by inserting' a wedge S, having a split leg, as shown in Fig. 2, and to provide for conveniently separating the clamp members the opposite edge of the member 7 is formed with undercut portions 7e for the insertion of a crowbar or other lever device for prying up the member 7. lVhen used on curves, the'outer clamp members 5 have their rail-engaging end made to extend up to bear against the head of the rail, as shown in Fig. 9.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the advantages of my invention will be readily apparent. It will be noticed that in the use of the same the necessity of bolts and lock-nuts are dispensed with, and the several parts are cooperatively arranged so that when forced down into a locked position they cannot become loosened or readily separated. By removing the Wedge or lock member 7 the other parts can be quickly spread and removed from engagement with the rail and the tie.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with the rail and a metallic tie therefor, said tie having a pair of T-slots, one at each side of the rail-seat; of a pair of opposing clamp members, detachably and longitudinally slidably held in said slots, and having head portions for interlocking with the under Walls of the tie, whereby to hold the said clamp members from vertical movement, and a detachable wedge or key cooperating with the clamp members, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with t-he tie l, having a pair of oppositely-extending T-slots, having undercut side walls; of clamp members each consisting of a head portion, adapted to straddle the tie-slots, a beveled lng adapted to pass through the head or enlarged part of the slots and engage with the undercut or beveled side walls, and a pendent shank for engaging the restricted or shank portion of said slots, and means for forcing the cla-mp members into a gripping contact with the rail and holding them locked to such position, substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

IIO

3. The combination with the rail, andfthe` tie, said tie being slotted longitudinally, opposing rail-clamping members 5 and 6, longitudinallyslidable in the tie-slots, and held from vertical movement therein when adjusted to a clamping position, the member 6 having its outer edge undercut; of the locki ing member 7 having a recess to seat on one edge of the slot, two beveled surfaces s s for enacting with the member `6, substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

et. The combination with a hollow metallicv railroad-tie longitudinally slotted on its upper face, said slot having lateral enlargements, the under face of the tie at points adjacent the said enlargements having vertical Walls, and undercut of beveled walls adjacent the other parts of the slot; of the members 5 and 6 each comprising ahead 6a, a pendent dovetailed lug?, arnarrow shank 6, and railengaging portions, and means for sustaining the said members 5 and 6 interlocked with the tie and the rail, substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

5. The combination with the longitudinallyslotted metallic tie, the rail, the opposingv rail-clamp members 5 and 6, longitudinally slidable on the tie-slot, and the detachable Wedge-block and locking member 7, arranged substantially as shown; of the key 8 having -and 6d, and a seat 1X at the outer end of slot 2; of the clamp members 5 and 6, each consisting of a head portion, a pendent lug dovetailed in `cross-section, to coperatewith the beveled or undercut walls of the slots in which they lit, and narrow shank portions to engage the narrow parts of the tie-slots, the head portions thereof having rail-ange-engaging portions, and the member 6 having its outer edge undercut, the lockl or ,wedge member 7 having a head 7,.a shank7a having a seat 7d, and a stem 7 adapted to fit the tie-seat 1X, the front edge of the member 7, having surfaces s s', disposed at an obtuse angle, all beingarranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

WILLlAM M. *GILPIN.

Witnesses W. V. HORNER, HOMER CEssNA. 

